With the Green Bay Packers losing pass rusher Kingsley Enagbare due to a potentially torn ACL, Matt LaFleur has urged the rest of the team to step up.
The Packers are moving on to the divisional round where they will face the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers, so they really can’t do anything but move forward and try to win for their injured teammates. Nonetheless, there’s no denying that losing a key player such as Enagbare at this crucial point of the season is such a massive blow to the team.
Kingsley Enagbare Injury With Green Bay Packers
Wm. Glasheen USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
As mentioned, there are fears that Enagbare tore his ACL during Sunday’s Wild Card win against the Dallas Cowboys.
Enagbare left the game in the second half and didn’t return. He was also spotted limping in the locker room, with LaFleur hinting at the severity of the issue when he told the media in his postgame presser that his “heart hurts” for the outside linebacker.
On Monday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network shared the bad news on Enagbare’s status.
“Source: Packers edge player Kingsley Enagbare is feared to have torn his ACL in yesterday’s win over the Cowboys. The player called JJ had carved out a nice rotational role for himself,” Rapoport wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Enagbare has established a significant role on the Packers’ defense, finishing the 2023 season with 27 solo tackles, eight tackles for loss, six QB hits and two sacks. Prior to his exit against the Cowboys, he had two tackles and two QB hits.
Matt LaFleur Issues Challenge to Green Bay Packers
With Kingsley Enagbare likely out, Matt LaFleur urged the rest of the team to fill the hole he leaves on the defensive side of the ball. While it surely won’t be easy, the Green Bay Packers head coach emphasized that they need to have that “next man up” mentality, especially in the postseason where they can’t afford to lose.
“It’s going to be the next man up. That’s just the mentality and the reality of the National Football League. Another guy gets an opportunity and we’ll see where we’re at, at the end of the week,” LaFleur said, per Packers.com.
The Packers still have some time to plan and better prepare themselves for the challenge that awaits in the divisional round. Hopefully, the team’s other linebackers have heard LaFleur’s message and are ready mentally to take on the challenge.
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